BARRY FERGUSON last night insisted Kris Boyd will be a better player for Rangers second time around.

The new Clyde player-boss is convinced his old Light Blues team-mate has improved all aspects of his game since relaunching his career at Kilmarnock.

Boyd rattled in 22 goals for the Rugby Park side in a one-man Premiership survival show last season and his services are now in demand at both Aberdeen and Ibrox.

But Ferguson has urged Gers boss Ally McCoist to pull out the stops to sign a player who would form a potent double act beside Kenny Miller and help ensure promotion from the Championship next season.

He said: “Rangers need a goalscorer and Kris will guarantee 20 a season. Goals win you championships and Boydy and Kenny Miller are a great partnership.

“They played together before. Kenny has experience and Boydy is an all-round better player these days. I watched him a few times for Kilmarnock and Rangers are getting a better player than they had before.

“His overall game has improved. He was always going to get you goals but his link-up play and movement is much improved.”

Boyd banged in more than 100 goals during a four-year stint at Ibrox before failing to translate the Midas touch with Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest.

The 30-year-old also struggled to hit the heights in Turkey and the MLS but Ferguson believes Boyd will also bring a wealth of experience which will be passed on to the Rangers kids.

He said: “Boydy is keen to do that and I like seeing that in players.

“If you have guys of that experience helping young players develop, then that can only be good for the game.”

Fergie with Boyd in their Rangers days

Ferguson has his own back catalogue of experiences to fall back on following his spell as player-boss of Blackpool last term when he was caught in the crossfire as fans rebelled against the club’s chairman.

And as the 36-year-old prepared to put his Clyde players through their first pre-season session yesterday, he said: “It was a great challenge at Blackpool. It was an unbelievable learning curve, that’s for sure. I used to look a lot younger.

“It was a great grounding for me. I had to deal with all sorts.

“Some of the stuff was crazy and I can’t really get into it.

“The fans were great with me and the players but there was always this circus around the chairman. The boys preferred to play away from home, which is sad but that’s the way it was.”

Ferguson has signed a three-year-deal with Clyde and intends to see the club climb through the divisions.

The players have agreed to train an extra night each week in a bid to haul themselves out of League Two and Ferguson said: “I’m excited to get out on the pitch, that’s where my job really starts

“First and foremost, it’s about getting a winning team on the pitch and our aim this year is to get promoted.

“I need guys who will work hard.

“That’s the main demand I have of the players.

“If you have a bad game, a bad touch or bad pass, I don’t care. Just go out there and work for me.”